Philippine Women Centre of B.C.
Press Release

Young Filipino women to gather in historic local conference

June 9, 2008

VANCOUVER, B.C.— The deaths of two Filipino youth within the last year and its impacts on the Filipino community across the Lower Mainland are
just a few of the many reasons why young Filipino women are determined re-define their roles as women and as Filipinos in Canada.

"Kabataang Babae Sulong para sa Kinabukasan!," (Young Filipino women struggle forward for our future!) organized by the Philippine Women's
Centre of BC-Young Women's Committee (PWC-BC Young Women's Committee) will gather 40 young women of Filipino ancestry for a historic one-day
conference to better understand the situation of young Filipino women within the Filipino community and in Canadian society. It is the first
of its kind.

The conference will take place this Saturday, June 14, 2008 at Vancouver Community College, Room 112, 250 West Pender Street, in Vancouver.

"The killings of Deward Ponte in Vancouver and Charle Dalde in Richmond are examples of how acute the crisis within the Filipino community is,"
says Denise Valdecantos, conference organizer and spokesperson. "But beyond the deaths of these young men are also the stories of their
mothers who came to Canada under the Live-in Caregiver Program and other young Filipino women who are also victims of violence. Their stories do
not make headlines, let alone are discussed in the Filipino community", Valdecantos added.

The murder of 27-year live-in caregiver Jocelyn Dulnuan in Toronto of October 2007 sparked anger and national actions of protest from Filipino-Canadian activists across the country but remained largely under the radar in mainstream media. Dulnuan was amongst the 3000 Filipino migrants who leave the Philippines on a daily basis for overseas work. Canada is one of the top destinations for Filipino migrant workers, the majority entering through Canada's Live-In Caregiver Program as live-in caregivers. In an updated Statistics Canada report, Filipino women comprise 57% of the overall Filipino community, 62% are between the ages of 25-44. Their average annual income is $22,500, approximately $8000 less than the average Canadian.

For Canadian-born Filipino women, racism, identity crises and gender oppression were daily occurrences that were identified in interviews and focus groups facilitated by the members of the PWC-BC Young Women's Committee.

"The Filipino community is diverse with an expansive history. Young Filipino women from those who were born in Canada to the newly-arrived
young women have complex issues that must be understood," explains Valdecantos. "By coming to a common understanding, we hope to come up
with solutions to help our community and in doing so, empowering ourselves as young women," she added.

- 30 –

Media are cordially invited to cover the morning session from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon.

"Kabataang Babae Sulong para sa Kinabukasan" (Young Filipino women struggle forward for our future!)
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Vancouver Community College, Room 112
250 West Pender Street,
Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, BC

Organized by the Philippine Women's Centre of BC-Young Women's Committee

For more information and media interviews, please contact Denise Valdecantos or Niki Silva at 604-215-1103, pwc@kalayaancentre.net
<mailto:pwc@kalayaancentre.net>

--